Divisions exposed as Sunday vote gives far-right chance to tighten grip in Germany
In eastern Germany, anti-far-right protestors are worried.
“Nazis out,” they shout as a long line winds its way down the street.
The far-right is rising in the state of Thuringia and, for the first time since the Second World War, an extreme-right party is expected to win the most seats in the state parliament when people vote on Sunday.
Crowds on the street to protest against the far-right
Bjorn Hocke and far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is on track to get about 30% of the vote.
It’s also polling high in Saxony and Brandenburg, which are both holding elections in September.
“I came today because there is a fascist danger in Germany… it’s spreading all over the world, in Europe especially and in Germany,” says protester Jurgen.
“We are here to set a sign against the fascist danger.”
Jurgen came out against the rise of the far-right
I ask his friend Monika why she thinks the AfD has grown in popularity.
“They [the public] are very angry about the government, and they think they can protest against the government by voting for the AfD,” she said.
Anti-immigration, Russia-friendly, Eurosceptic Hocke has been labelled a fascist and the Thuringia branch of the AfD has been classed as extreme by state security services, but supporters believe they are Germany’s future.
At the final campaign rally before the polls open in Erfurt, Hocke is received like a rock star.
People gathered at the AfD rally. Pic: Reuters
He gets numerous rounds of applause as he addresses the crowd.
From the stage he shouts out slogans like “Germany first”, a catchphrase adapted from another populist’s playbook.
“The AfD is the only party that does something for the people,” says Martin who is among the crowd.
Immigration, crime, the economy – people list the perceived failings of the federal government as reasons why they are supporting the AfD.
Some believe the AfD is the only party serving Germany
Earlier this year, Hocke was found guilty of using a banned Nazi slogan employed by Hilter’s stormtroopers.
I ask a mother at the rally if she thinks he is an extremist and dangerous?
“No, he’s okay, it’s propaganda,” she replies.
It’s the same at every AfD event I’ve been to.
But that’s not the only reason why what people say here sounds familiar – whether it’s concerns over immigration, worries about the cost of living or a feeling of being forgotten by mainstream politicians, the issues helping to fuel the far-right in Germany are similar to the issues fuelling it across Europe.
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The arrest of an asylum seeker over last week’s fatal knife attack in Soligen has bolstered the AfD’s anti-immigration stance.
Their closest competitors the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) have also taken a harder line on asylum seekers and migration as they fight for votes.
They’re acutely aware dissatisfaction feeds the far-right.
“Unrest within society leads to a much faster increase in populists on the far-left and far-right and this altogether formulates a magical formula for a very unstable political situation,” says Mario Voigt, the CDU’s candidate in Thuringia.
While the AfD isn’t likely to get enough support to gain full control of the parliament in Thuringia, Sunday’s vote has again highlighted the deepening divisions in society and increased opponents’ fears the far-right is strengthening its grip in Germany.
“Super high-IQ revolutionaries” who are willing to work 80+ hours a week are being urged to join Elon Musk’s new cost-cutting department in Donald Trump’s incoming US government.
The X and Tesla owner will co-lead the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
And in a post on X, the official DOGE account put out a call to arms for people to sign up and help “dismantle government bureaucracy”.
The post said: “We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE.
“We don’t need more part-time idea generators.
“We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.
“If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants.”
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Elon Musk speaking at an event held at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Pic: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
In a reply to an interested party, Mr Musk suggested the lucky applicants would be working for free.
“Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lost of enemies & compensation is zero,” the world’s richest man wrote.
“What a great deal!”
When announcing the new department, President-elect Donald Trump said Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy “will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies”.
Mr Musk has previously made clear his desire to see cuts to “government waste” and in a post on his X platform suggested he could axe as many as three-quarters of the more than 400 federal departments in the US, writing: “99 is enough.”
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
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The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out at a retirement home in northern Spain in the early hours of this morning, officials have said.
A further two people were seriously injured in the blaze at the residence in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in Zaragoza, according to the Spanish news website Diario Sur.
Two people remain in a critical condition following the blaze. Pic: AP
They remain in a critical condition, while several others received treatment for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the residence – the Jardines de Villafranca – at 5am (4am UK time) on Friday.
Several residents were treated for smoke inhalation. Pic: AP
Those who were killed in the fire died from smoke inhalation, Spanish newspaper Heraldo reported.
The residence is home to 82 elderly residents.
Read more from Sky News:
Mass displacement in Gaza – people unsure where to go
Donald Trump picks vaccine sceptic as health secretary
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the region, told reporters.
All of the victims were elderly residents, he added.
Relatives wait for news outside the care home. Pic: AP
Fire crews, paramedics and police officers remain on site, said a spokesperson for the regional government of Aragon who confirmed the fatalities.
It took firefighters several hours to extinguish the blaze, they said.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated.
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